Look, no one loves the set-up shows prior for PPV events except for the people in the city hosting them, because they need to see Raw when it comes to town. In this case, Phoenix, you have our sympathies. And on that note, let's head to USA and see what awaits.

Given what’s been happening to him as of late, Enzo Amore appears to be in fairly good spirits as he hits the ring. He makes a quick spin through all the things he’s been through over the past year, noting that Cass was supposed to have his back. Since he’s taken plenty of punishment, Enzo makes the not ridiculous claim that he’s one of the toughest guys to step between the ropes in a long time. Amore also says his mouth never digs a hole too deep for him to climb out of, and he calls his former partner “a seven-foot catchphrase … that I wrote.”

Hey, Charly gets an immediate response from Cass like it’s the State of the Union address or something. The seven-footer insists that he’s never heard anyone talk so much without saying anything, but it’s Enzo’s actions that speak as he leaps onto Cass from behind and starts a brief ruckus until referees and officials pull them apart.

Match 1 - Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss

Yikes, Bayley gets smashed into the retaining wall on the floor by Jax, who dominates the pre-commercial segment of this match.The hugger gets removed from the match, apparently, after that sequence. So now it’s a handicap match for Banks, and that’s not good news going against Nia and the women’s champ. But after keeping Jax downed by kicking her in the knee, Sasha is able to focus her energy on Alexa, eventually forcing a quick tapout from the Bank Statement.

Another mysterious Kurt Angle phone call is interrupted by Braun Strowman, who demands to know what will happen if Roman Reigns isn’t going to be at Great Balls of Fire. He also wants competition tonight, saying Angle is an intelligent man and will figure something out. That is one of the three “I’s,” so …

A video package hypes the upcoming battle between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar, with each man discussing what their mission is and why they will emerge victorious on Sunday. They’re also going to talk about the match tonight on Raw, hopefully adding something more than just, “I’m better, I’m going to win.”

Match 2 - Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar (w/ Alicia Fox)

You know how mid-card feuds usually just fade away when one or both of the wrestlers in them get injured? Not so much here. Alexander and Fox have both returned from time on the shelf (and Fox is still sporting a neck brace), giving Cedric and Noam a reason to be mad at each other again. Alexander comes out on top in a short match, smirking at Fox after he gets the three count with the Lumbar Check.

We have to talk about the LaVar and Lonzo Ball segment last week, eh? Fine, let’s get that out of the way.

It segues into the next segment, where Miz claims that Lonzo Ball will let down more fans than Steve Nash ever did. That, my friends, is how you turn a pop into a boo. There’s an element of sour grapes here too, as Miz is incredulous that LaVar Ball would want Dean Ambrose to represent Big Baller Brand. The narrative here is that Ambrose can’t handle the pressure that comes with being a top guy, certainly not one who can make the Intercontinental Championship relevant again like Miz. Ambrose wants to get his hands on Miz tonight, but Heath Slater and Rhyno want in on this too. Slater notes that he’s never had a title shot in his eight-year WWE career. Love Rhyno’s “I’m with Heath” shirt. Angle comes out and gets into a shouting match with Miz, who says he’ll do the GM a favor and defend the title on Sunday at Great Balls of Fire. But will it be Ambrose or Slater getting the shot? It’ll be Ambrose at the PPV, but Slater gets his opportunity tonight -- and right now, as a matter of fact.

Miz is in street clothes for this, and Ambrose settles in with the announcers. Eventually, Miz gets his dress shirt ripped open and ends up eating knife-edge chops across his chest. After a near fall for Slater, Miz begs off and regroups with the Miztourage during the commercial break. Miz splits his pants right in the rear, and he’s soon doing his best to split Heath’s lip. The It Kicks connect, except for the final one, and soon Miz has to kick out after Slater’s swinging neckbreaker. Heath isn’t done, running to the turnbuckle and delivering a powerslam from up high. He ends up turning his back, though, when the Miztourage starts messing with Rhyno, and the Skull-Crushing Finale finishes this one. The Miztourage jumps on Slater, then takes a shot at Ambrose after he rushes down from the announce position to try getting his hands on the Miz. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas set their boss up perfectly for a Skull-Crushing Finale on Ambrose, who stands tall with his belt and his goons.

Time for a little Titus Worldwide pep talk. I think Titus O’Neil is convincing Apollo Crews to take on Strowman. “Crews can’t lose” is catchy, but I have my doubts.

The scene shifts back to the ring where Goldust is finally ready to reveal his “latest masterpiece,” The Shattered Truth. Before he does, he thanks all the little people, especially R-Truth. If he wasn’t so naive, none of this would be possible. The Bizarre One rolls the footage, but Truth shows up to put a quick stop to it.

Sheamus and Cesaro visit Angle and find out the stipulation for their tag team title defense on Sunday is a 30-minute Iron Man Match. They’re fine with that, and Cesaro appears to even get Kurt to give him Finn Balor tonight. The tag champs leave as Angle gets another call he has to take.

Match 4 - Seth Rollins vs. Curt Hawkins

Well, we needed a squash on this show. Here it is.

I think Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar are going to have a debate or something. As they appear side by side on the video screen, they talk for a few minutes before Joe gets upset and sets off through the arena looking for Lesnar. He does eventually find the Universal Champion, but a bunch of WWE officials manage to hold the two men apart, with Lesnar cracking wise knowing that the company isn’t about to let them fight tonight. Probably.

Match 5 - Neville vs. Mustafa Ali

Can Ali’s high-flying style give the former Man Who Gravity Forgot a hard time? He actually hits one high risk move, then a spinning DDT that both get near falls. Ali goes up top again but gets smacked all the way down to the floor and slams into the barricade. Of course, Neville eventually gets his feet under him, and he forces Ali to tap out to the Rings of Saturn.

With a pay-per-view looming, there needs to be a weird Bray Wyatt video, right? Of course there does. It’s pretty much just him walking in creepy fashion through the desert, so … yeah. Oh wait, there’s more after the commercials. Weird desert imagery, we see you.

The Hardy Boyz aren’t sitting this one out, joining the announcers to make it five men at the table. We learn that Balor is Jeff Hardy’s daughter’s favorite wrestler before Sheamus gets on the apron to help his partner gain the momentum. After a commercial break, the Swiss Superman is in control but having trouble putting Balor away. Finn hits a dropkick through the ropes and his apron kick, leading Matt Hardy to call it “delightful.” Here comes Elias Samson with a strum or two on his guitar, and Cesaro hits an uppercut for a near fall. Samson ends up tripping Balor, causing the Hardys to leave the announce table, and Balor flies over the top rope and lands on all five men. One series of signature moves later, Balor hits the Coup de Grace and gets a hard-fought win.

Strowman comes to the ring with ambulance in tow, yelling about how he’s hurt Reigns but still wants competition. O’Neil introduces his client, and Crews seems to be here for this.

Main Event - Braun Strowman vs. Apollo Crews

Crews is able to stick and move for a minute, but Strowman sends him flying to the floor as soon as he can. When Apollo beats the 10-count, he soon regrets it. Strowman literally kicks Crews silly and delivers a pair of running powerslams, intentionally pulling out of the cover before the ref can get to three. Finally, a third running powerslam puts Crews away. Braun brings Apollo to the ambulance and tries sending it off, but he gets a rude awakening in the form of Reigns waiting in the passenger seat. Braun fights back and after they battle up to the stage, Roman spears Braun off the side of the stage and through whatever is down there, tables and such. Strowman actually is on his feet a few minutes later. And that’s all she wrote, let’s hope Great Balls of Fire isn’t as silly as its name, and we’ll see you in seven.

Nick Tylwalk has been with SLAM! Wrestling since the dawn of time, or at least since before the turn of the century. He spends his days overseeing FanSided's Entertainment efforts, but he'll always make time to sneak away for some wrestling.